Swansea City have announced the signing of Harry Darling from MK Dons.
The defender signs on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
He will take the number six jersey and will join up with his new team-mates at their training camp in Pennyhill Park.
Although head coach Russell Martin's interest in the 22-year-old has been longstanding, the move came about quickly in the end, with a medical completed at Fairwood on Saturday afternoon.
It is a major coup for Martin and Swansea, who have coveted the centre-back for sometime. They tried to sign him back in January but the finances could not be put in place to facilitate a move. Now they've got their man, and Darling revealed the club's style of football was what persuaded him to make the switch to south Wales.
“I personally think it’s the best way to play and that’s why I’m here,” said Darling.
“Russell was a massive part of it. I was with him at my last club and we’ve stayed in contact. I love working with him and it’s such a big club. I’ve heard really good things about it so those were the two reasons I want to come here.
“I know the way the manager plays so it was just a case of getting the deal over the line - I just can’t wait to get started.
“The style is different, but when it gets going it’s such an exciting way of playing and it can really dominate teams.
“Although I’m a ball playing centre-back, my first job is to keep clean sheets, defend well and do that for the team. If I can do that bit first, then goals are just added extras.”
Swansea reportedly saw off interest from Chelsea and Sheffield United for the defender, who is likely to be a mainstay in Martin's starting XI next term.
He becomes Swansea's third signing of the window; defenders Nathan Wood and Wasiri Williams penned deals in SA1 last week, with the latter expected to initially join up with the under-23s.
Darling's arrival casts fresh doubt over the future of Joel Latibeaudiere in SA1, with Burnley believed to be readying a £500,000 move for the former Manchester City man.
